County profile · California
Merced County, CA market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Merced County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 297,260
- +5.1% since 2020
- Households
- 86,055
- Median household income
- $65,510
- +22.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $391,800
- Jobs located here
- 77,775
- Highest market score
- 85
- Collision repair and body shops, #32 of 1,327 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Merced County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Merced County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 297,260 people live in Merced County, in 86,055 households. Population estimates show Merced County grew 5.1% from 2020 to 2025, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Merced County is $65,510 a year, 19% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 22.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Merced County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 116, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (80).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Merced County are for collision repair and body shops (85), veterinarians (85) and pet businesses (84). Merced County ranks #32 of 1,327 scored counties for collision repair and body shops.
Merced County is part of the Merced metro area. For its number of households, Merced County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (46% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for spas and skin care studios (63% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Merced County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Merced County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collision repair and body shops | 85 | #32 of 1,327 | 21 | 2.4 | $4.5M | 148 | 13 |
| Veterinarians | 85 | #42 of 1,485 | 19 | 2.2 | $3.9M | 145 | 13 |
| Pet businesses | 84 | #39 of 2,200 | 68 | 7.9 | $1.1M | 125 | 23 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 83 | #37 of 1,461 | 24 | 2.8 | $3.1M | 123 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 83 | #42 of 1,769 | 37 | 4.3 | $2.1M | 242 | 4 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 78 | #18 of 479 | 5 | 0.6 | $19.1M | 139 | 5 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 78 | #62 of 1,334 | 36 | 4.2 | $2.2M | 107 | 3 |
| Chiropractors | 78 | #81 of 1,490 | 24 | 2.8 | $4.2M | 176 | 14 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 78 | #97 of 2,088 | 98 | 11.4 | $796K | 120 | 20 |
| Hair salons | 77 | #125 of 2,339 | 142 | 16.5 | $553K | 129 | 14 |
| Roofing and gutters | 76 | #75 of 1,177 | 12 | 1.4 | $18.4M | 217 | 9 |
| Physical therapy | 75 | #136 of 1,422 | 26 | 3.0 | $3.9M | 162 | 21 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 74 | #132 of 1,302 | 22 | 2.6 | $4.6M | 147 | 12 |
| House cleaning | 73 | #78 of 847 | 8 | 0.9 | $12.9M | 201 | 29 |
| Gyms | 73 | #173 of 1,792 | 59 | 6.9 | $1.3M | 102 | 17 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 73 | #219 of 2,385 | 261 | 30.3 | $301K | 142 | 32 |
| Home repair trades | 72 | #155 of 2,057 | 62 | 7.2 | $3.6M | 146 | 107 |
| Auto repair shops | 72 | #297 of 2,378 | 180 | 20.9 | $531K | 119 | 77 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 71 | #111 of 887 | 26 | 3.0 | Index only | 141 | 9 |
| Car washes and detailing | 71 | #199 of 1,451 | 25 | 2.9 | $3.8M | 152 | 18 |
| Auto repair and car care | 71 | #339 of 2,401 | 282 | 32.8 | $339K | 126 | 127 |
| Insurance agencies | 71 | #439 of 2,272 | 87 | 10.1 | $2M | 160 | 57 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 70 | #247 of 1,493 | 30 | 3.5 | $3.4M | 117 | 46 |
| Child care and preschools | 70 | #267 of 1,611 | 50 | 5.8 | $962K | 96 | 40 |
| Nail salons | 69 | #174 of 1,328 | 33 | 3.8 | $2.4M | 142 | 12 |
| Electricians | 69 | #174 of 1,160 | 16 | 1.9 | $13.8M | 115 | 35 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 69 | #227 of 1,707 | 34 | 4.0 | $6.5M | 136 | 63 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 69 | #253 of 2,176 | 158 | 18.4 | Index only | 166 | 47 |
| Funeral homes | 69 | #255 of 1,472 | 14 | 1.6 | $832K | 123 | 8 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 66 | #317 of 1,771 | 51 | 5.9 | $2M | 120 | 89 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 64 | #396 of 1,656 | 36 | 4.2 | $2.8M | 158 | 127 |
| Real estate | 64 | #424 of 2,229 | 210 | 24.4 | Index only | 157 | 96 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 63 | #636 of 2,405 | 406 | 47.2 | $750K | 113 | 117 |
| Property management | 61 | #283 of 910 | 24 | 2.8 | Index only | 107 | 35 |
| Pet stores | 61 | #304 of 974 | 18 | 2.1 | $4.2M | 92 | 7 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 61 | #643 of 2,087 | 77 | 8.9 | $1.8M | 144 | 35 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 60 | #713 of 2,210 | 108 | 12.6 | $1.3M | 148 | 40 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 60 | #766 of 2,405 | 729 | 84.7 | $418K | 113 | 335 |
| Gas stations | 60 | #778 of 2,358 | 137 | 15.9 | $1.8M | 76 | 73 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 58 | #821 of 2,394 | 383 | 44.5 | $264K | 173 | 264 |
| Convenience stores | 57 | #881 of 2,261 | 91 | 10.6 | $5.4M | 68 | 18 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 56 | #699 of 1,889 | 65 | 7.6 | $4.7M | 113 | 53 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 56 | #777 of 2,063 | 74 | 8.6 | $4.1M | 111 | 47 |
| Pizza | 56 | #791 of 2,090 | 64 | 7.4 | $4.8M | 94 | 169 |
| Tire shops | 53 | #709 of 1,530 | 45 | 5.2 | $2.1M | 85 | 24 |
| Barbershops | 51 | #683 of 1,356 | 46 | 5.3 | $1.7M | 91 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 49 | #1,190 of 2,222 | 120 | 13.9 | $2.5M | 83 | 169 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 45 | #1,134 of 1,886 | 93 | 10.8 | $1.1M | 111 | 82 |
| Pest control | 42 | #457 of 699 | 13 | 1.5 | $7.9M | 77 | 14 |
| Laundromats | 40 | #509 of 785 | 14 | 1.6 | $10.1M | 80 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 40 | #1,606 of 2,402 | 230 | 26.7 | $2.1M | 63 | 74 |
| Grocery stores | 37 | #1,459 of 2,070 | 80 | 9.3 | $6.1M | 66 | 56 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.3 | $26M | 640 | 17 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.2 | $70.4M | Too few | 5 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.2 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.2 | $50.6M | Too few | 8 |
Household spending in Merced County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $95.5M | $1,110 | 116 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $247.5M | $2,876 | 111 |
| Food away from home | $304.4M | $3,537 | 87 |
| Groceries | $489.2M | $5,684 | 90 |
| Personal care products and services | $78.6M | $913 | 91 |
| Child care and other personal services | $48.1M | $559 | 96 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $78M | $906 | 92 |
| Medical and dental services | $101.2M | $1,176 | 91 |
| Pets | $74.9M | $870 | 96 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $140.7M | $1,635 | 80 |
| Vehicle insurance | $175.2M | $2,036 | 104 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $220.4M | $2,562 | 85 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $102.9M | $1,195 | 85 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.4B | $16,589 | 100 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Merced County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 297,260+5.1% since 2020
- Households
- 86,055
- Median age
- 32.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 54%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 1,938 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 150
- Median household income
- $65,510+22.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $87,781
- Median home value
- $391,800
- Jobs located here
- 77,775
- Daytime population
- 255,124Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Merced County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Merced County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in California 8
- Stanislaus County, CA553,990 people
- Madera County, CA160,940 people
- Mariposa County, CA17,082 people
- Tuolumne County, CA54,498 people
- San Benito County, CA67,290 people
- San Joaquin County, CA797,334 people
- Fresno County, CA1,016,725 people
- Calaveras County, CA46,248 people
Questions
How fast is Merced County, CA growing?
Population estimates put Merced County at 297,260 people in 2025, up 5.1% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 86,055 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 22.1%, before inflation.
How much do households in Merced County, CA spend?
Households in Merced County spend about $1.4B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $489.2M on groceries and $304.4M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Merced County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 116, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (80).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Merced County, CA?
Of the business types scored in Merced County, collision repair and body shops (85), veterinarians (85) and pet businesses (84) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For collision repair and body shops, that ranks #32 of 1,327 scored counties.
How does Merced County, CA compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Merced County is $65,510, 19% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 5.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $391,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (46% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for spas and skin care studios (63% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 52 of the 56 business types have a score in Merced County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Merced County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in California · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Merced County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Merced County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.